Role of Akt Signaling in Learning and Synaptic Plasticity

神经生物学的最大挑战之一是破译整合突触可塑性、学习和记忆的分子机制。弗兰克博士的项目研究了一种名为Akt的蛋白激酶，它是处于细胞外环境和细胞内动态平衡之间的关键分子。该项目旨在明确定义Akt信号作为神经细胞生物学、突触可塑性和认知中心的一种新的分子途径的作用。通过扩展Franke博士之前对Akt的鉴定和表征的研究，该项目将使用转基因小鼠来检验Akt激酶在更高大脑功能中的新含义。该项目基于这样的假设，即大脑中特定受体的Akt依赖调节参与了其在学习和突触可塑性中的中介作用。为了验证这一假设，行为、电生理、生化和细胞生物学实验将在一个创新的跨学科项目团队中进行，该团队结合了各种科学知识和技术专长。考虑到Akt在神经细胞生物学中的关键作用，这项研究的结果将为记忆处理的细胞基础提供重要的新见解。因此，该项目将揭示有关促进大脑高级功能的基本机制的重要新信息，这些信息尚未被研究。该项目包括为博士后和博士后提供培训机会，并让高中生和本科生作为研究的积极参与者。此外，调查人员还将在当地学校和本科院校展示他们的研究成果。将特别重视来自代表性不足人口群体的学生的融入，包括来自少数群体机构的暑期学生，如亨特学院(纽约市立大学)和长岛大学(布鲁克林)。

One of the great challenges in neurobiology is to decipher the molecular mechanisms that integrate synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. Dr. Franke's project examines the protein kinase called Akt, which is a key molecule at the interphase between the extracellular environment and intracellular homeostasis. The project seeks to clearly define the role Akt signaling as a new molecular pathway at the center of neuronal cell biology, synaptic plasticity and cognition. By expanding Dr. Franke's previous research on the identification and characterization of Akt, this project will examine novel implications of the Akt kinase in higher brain function using genetically modified mice. The project is based on the hypothesis that the Akt-dependent regulation of specific receptors in the brain is involved in mediating its role in learning and synaptic plasticity. To test this hypothesis, behavioral, electrophysiological, biochemical and cell biological experiments will be performed in an innovative and interdisciplinary project team that combines diverse scientific know-how and technical expertise. Considering the crucial role of Akt in neuronal cell biology, the results of the study will provide significant new insights into the cellular basis for the processing of memories. Thus, the project will reveal important new information about basic mechanisms contributing to higher brain function that have not yet been investigated. The project includes training opportunities for pre- and post-doctoral students, and involves high school and undergraduate students as active participants in the research. In addition, the investigators will present their research findings at local schools and undergraduate colleges. A special emphasis will be placed on the integration of students from underrepresented population groups by including summer students from minority-based institutions such as Hunter College (City University of New York) and Long Island University (Brooklyn).